"Never mind the fact that the iPod turned the entire music industry on its head. Never mind the fact that most successful notebooks today resemble designs first popularized by Apple. Never mind the fact that the blueprint of the modern day smartphone remains the original iPhone. Never mind the fact that competitors are scrambling wildly to copy the success and design of the iPad. Forget all of these things, because when it comes to Apple, the 'what have you done for me lately?' mentality reigns supreme."

Both my sisters have iPads (Windows PCs and Samsung Android phones). I've used the iPad extensively. The experience is like using one of those touch screen information kiosks in shopping centres - utterly brain dead.

IMHO large tablets are just a clumsy and impractical gimmick with very little future. Most will either be replaced with phablets or ultrabooks over the next couple of years.

Everyone, of course, has a right to their opinion; but I rub shoulders every day with dozens of business colleagues who are issued iPads and are happily productive with their capabilities in the business arena. Then, a young relative of mine (8yrs old) received an iPad Mini for the holidays. I watched her set it up and immediately start viewing Disney videos. I think that comparing its usability range to a kiosk is damning it with unwarranted feinted praise. I don't own a tablet at this time because my laptops and iPhone 4s are sufficient, but I gotta say that a Mini with a retina display will be hard to resist down the road.